New Releases

The Rose of Sharon by Kara O’Neal–and a giveaway

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Howdy, fellow western romance readers! It’s great to be back!

I’m excited to share the sixth book in my Wildflowers of Texas series – THE ROSE OF SHARON – with y’all.

This romance features Miss Libby Mae Truman, who first appeared in PRICKLY POPPY. Libby became quite the person for me. She’s formidable and had suffered a broken heart, so I just had to give her a happy ending.

We also meet the man who adores her in PRICKLY POPPY. Except…he’s already married.

Brannon Welch has had a painful life, but he’s managed it with as much care as he possibly could. He’s secretly in love with Libby, and when his wife deserts him, he decides to go after what he wants.

This is my first “later in life” romance, and I must say that I truly enjoyed writing these two characters. They are both people I admire, and I think you will, as well!

This series has been interesting, because each heroine connects with a wildflower in some way. When I first “met” Libby, her flower came instantly to my mind.

The Rose of Sharon is strikingly beautiful, and it can withstand the harshest elements of West Texas. This describes Libby perfectly. She’s a leader, manages all sorts of problems and people, and doesn’t cower in a corner when faced with something difficult. She’s a “general of the west” for sure!

 

THE ROSE OF SHARON represents Libby’s resilience. If you had to pick a flower that describes your personality, which one would it be and why? One lucky commentor will win a free copy (print or ebook)!

Blurb

Brownwood, Texas, 1883

Libby Truman was once a fool for love, and she vowed never again to be so ridiculous. Time has passed, and she’s now forty-two, a pillar of society, and in complete control of her life. But when someone begins leaving the striking blossoms of the Rose of Sharon for her, her heart begins to yearn.

Brannon Welch, forty-five, successful businessman, respected member of the town, is in love. But not with his wife. With Libby. He’s tired of hiding his feelings. And now that his wife has deserted him, he’s found the courage to give romance another try.

But vengeance comes for Libby, and Brannon must do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means his own life.

Excerpt

He loved her.

He had to stop lying to himself, stop pretending.

He loved her.

Libby Truman.

Libby Mae Truman.

At the thought of her name, his heart swelled to almost bursting.

He allowed her angelic form to materialize in his mind’s eye, and his pulse began to race.

Letting out a slow breath, he rose from the chair behind his desk. He drifted closer to the second-story windows of his office and looked out at the sunset.

The red was blending into orange. West Texas had its beauty, and it never failed to amaze him. The rawness of the land, the untamed nature, had appealed to his soul, and despite what his wife had wanted, he’d settled here to build his legacy.

And that’s when it had all gone bad.

Penelope hadn’t wanted to live in Brownwood. She’d wanted Austin. Or Houston.

He’d put his foot down.

That had been his mistake, but he’d tried to make up for it. He’d worked his fingers to the bone, had created three companies, had amassed enough wealth to give her whatever she wanted.

Whatever she wanted, though, was never enough.

He hadn’t known that the strawberry-blonde curls, the sparkling hazel eyes, the sweet smile had hidden a selfish, manipulative viper.

After ten years of trying, he’d given up. He’d fallen out of love, which made having a marriage impossible. Not that Penelope had cared or noticed. She’d thrown all her efforts, time, love, and care into their son, Anson.

Who was now in prison. For murder.

As it always did, the memory of his child being arrested, tried, sentenced, and taken away made his heart crack. It was a wonder the organ still worked.

He thought about his life, catalogued his mistakes and regrets. Hanging his head, he slipped his hands into his pockets, pushing his gray suitcoat back.

There was only one bright spot in his world.

Libby Truman.

Blonde-headed, blue-eyed, petite.

Generous. Hard-working. Highly intelligent.

Fiercely independent.

They’d operated side-by-side over the years, both helping with various social functions. He’d sat on the Town Council multiple times, and she’d been the leader of many events that had needed the council’s approval. They also attended the same church, where she was very active, and had consistently inspired him to be the best he could be.

She was the epitome of womanhood.

And yet, she’d never married. He didn’t even know if she’d ever been courted.

The man who might turn her head would be the best of men.

And he was not.

Yes, he was a good businessman, and he had reasons to believe he was a good boss and a good Christian. But he’d failed as a husband and father, the two most important roles.

He lifted his head and gazed once again at the setting sun.

And thought of her.

Libby.

He loved her.

Brannon Welch loved Libby Truman.

He would hold the truth inside, though. He would never act on his feelings.

He had a wife. She’d deserted him, had moved back to Dallas, but he had one.

And Libby had principles. She never went back on them.

He smiled softly.

My God, how I love her.

Book Purchase Link:  https://books2read.com/u/3L1Q8D

Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.

When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.

Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night! Visit Kara O’Neal at http://www.karaoneal.com.

Where to Find Kara

Website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X ~ Pinterest ~ Newsletter ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon

 

IF SHE WERE MINE — New Historical Coming Soon

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Howdy!

Happy Tuesday!  And welcome to another terrific Tuesday!

Yes, I have a new historical romance coming soon.  This is book #6 in the Medicine Man Series.  It’s still in editing at the moment, but I heard from my editor today and she says she is almost done with the edits.  When this happens, it means about 2-3 weeks for me to do the edits and to get them thoroughly proofed and then getting it published, which can take a few days as well.  And, so I thought I’d put out a call for anyone who would like an ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of the book,  These ARC’s are sent out most usually to readers would like to do reviews.  It’s not necessary to do a review, of course, but this is most usually the reason an ARC is sent.

If you would like to have an Advanced Copy of the new Historical when it is released (or perhaps a little before), please let me know in the comments.

So, that said, I thought I’d give you an except of the new book.  We’ll start with the blurb and then an excerpt from the very beginning of the story (the Prologue).

If She Were Mine

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Karen Kay

 

A star-crossed love, treachery, and desire that will not be denied.

Briella Feher is in love, but not with her fiancé. Her father has exiled her from the sweeping plains of Montana to New York City “for her own safety,” commanding her to marry within her heritage and class. Raised in Indian Territory, Briella was shaped as much by the Pikuni—Blackfeet—people as by her aristocratic Hungarian family. Viewed as a cowgirl, Briella doesn’t fit in with society. Perhaps it’s the guns she wears strapped to her evening gowns. Her heart has always belonged to Red Fox, the Pikuni medicine man who taught her to survive on the prairie, the man who was her teacher, her first love. When James Maximillian III proposes—with the condition that he keep his mistress—Briella accepts, seeing his proposal as her only path back to Montana and to Red Fox.

Two years apart have not cooled the fire between Briella and Red Fox, yet his honor won’t allow him to claim this woman who is promised to another. With the escalation of the Indian/Cavalry wars, Red Fox believes distance is the only way to protect the woman he loves. Then a vision reveals a devastating truth: Briella’s fiancé is hiding a lie that could shatter every vow. It’s now up to Red Fox to find the truth.

Time is running out, however, and forces are aligned against them. Can Red Fox find the proof and expose the treachery in time to alter the ending of their Romeo and Juliet romance, or will he lose Briella forever in a romance destined for tragedy?

PROLOGUE

Northwest Indian Country

Territory of the Blackfeet

The Month When Geese Come (May) 1871

Máóhkataatoyi, Red Fox watched as Pokaa’aakíí (Poka’aki), Child Woman, or as the white’s called her, Briella Fehér, raised her hand and shouted, “Watch me take down this buffalo calf with one shot!”

“Saa! Wait! Do not shoot! There are—”

BLAST!

It was too late! The damage was done. Hadn’t Poka’aki seen the buffalo herd hidden in the shallow, plain-like valley below?

And now the buffalo, having heard the shot, would assume hunters were close-by; it would cause them to stampede. But, perhaps their direction might be to run along the valley rather than to climb the hill and…

As Red Fox heard the unmistakable thunder of hundreds or perhaps thousands of the buffalo’s hooves coming closer and closer to him, he knew the stark reality of what this was: a stampede on its way—toward him and Poka’aki.

There is, perhaps, nothing more terrifying to the heart of a man than the sound of snapping wood, the whooshing of shrubs and bushes, as well as the quaking and ratting of the ground beneath one as the tremendous force and speed of a stampeding herd of buffalo was on the run.

Even now the air carried the dirt and rocks kicked high into the air by those buffalos’ hooves. With a sinking heart, Red Fox knew the herd would be here before Poka’aki had time to get out of the way, and, if she didn’t move fast enough, they would trample her to death.

“Get out of here!” he shouted and waved at her. “Quick! Leave here! Go! Fast!”

But he knew his words were useless. All sound was blocked except the thunder of the stampede.

In a time quicker than it takes to think it, Red Fox knew that George, who was Poka’aki’s brother as well as his own almost-brother, was too far away to come to Briella’s rescue. George had left their hunting party early in the morning, his intention being to return to the tribe and report this enormous herd of buffalo to the chiefs, letting them decide if they would call a tribal hunt of the buffalo or secure a buffalo caller to send the herd, one and all, over the cliff of the pisskan, the buffalo jump.

Inwardly, he cringed. Because of his and Poki’aki’s actions here today, the stampede would interfere with the tribe’s ability to obtain enough food for winter storage, if only because a stampeding herd of buffalo could run through the day and into the night, taking the vast supply of food completely out of Blackfoot territory.

This was why, when a large mass of buffalo had been spotted, the chiefs banned all hunting until the tribe’s men could, as a single body, hunt the game.

On this very day, the chiefs had sent both himself and George—two scouts—out from the camp to look for buffalo. No one in the tribe yet knew this large herd was even here. And yet, it would soon be gone.

The thunderous, ground shaking roar of the stampede caused all further thought to cease. Casting a glance over his shoulder, Red Fox caught sight of the black, horned creatures coming into sight and directly at him. Just then, his horse reared as a wave of the black, hairy beasts encompassed him and his mount, and pushed him and his pony in alongside of them.

With a quick action, Red Fox brought his pony under control. There was no running from them now, and, within the batting of an eye, Red Fox and his mount were caught up in the stampede…but he was on the other side of the herd from Poka’aki.

Because the sharp-horned cows enveloped him and crowded in on every side him, his pony was forced to keep time with the stampede; Red Fox spared a glance behind him to see blackened masses of the animals to the rear of him, seeming as though they were without end. There was to be no retreat from them.

Once more, he looked toward Poka’aki, seeing she was caught up within the herd, as was he. He had to save her—but how?

He was on the complete opposite side of the solid mass of charging buffalo. He knew well that even the best of horses could not last for long within a fleeing herd of these animals; the buffalo’s lungs were large and strong and the muscles in their legs were sturdy, allowing them to run both day and night without ever stopping.

But, not so a horse. Even the best buffalo horse could not long keep up with a running buffalo herd; instead, a good pony was trained to take his master toward a buffalo, allowing the man to grab quick shot and then to retreat, carrying himself and his rider to the side of the terrorized animals.

Glancing at Poka’aki on his left and across a field of the terror-stricken and plunging buffalo, he took stock of her horse…a three-year-old mare not trained to a buffalo run. Her horse wouldn’t last longer than a breath. Worse, Red Fox could see she had lost control of the reins, causing her to cling to the pony’s mane, the reins being dragged behind, which could be stepped on by a buffalo…

All Indian hunters know that the only way to remain alive in a buffalo stampede is to gradually guide one’s horse to the edge of the stampede and then leave the massive push of the herd. But without reins? How was she to guide her horse?

With a sinking heart, Red Fox knew Poka’aki ‘s chances of surviving the stampede were all but impossible.

But, she must survive! She must! She, the girl he had loved for so many years!

He had to get to her! Her horse would soon become tired and would be overrun by the sharp hooves of the buffalo pushing in on her from behind, trampling them both into the ground.

His one chance to save her was to guide his horse toward hers and then lead them both to the side. And, this he would do; this he must do.

In a moment out of time, he devised a plan. He knew that the buffalo do not see well; they follow the leading cow in front of them, creating little paths within the stampede.

Poka’aki was slightly ahead of him, and he counted three rows of the buffalo between himself and Poka’aki. All he had to do was to kill the buffalo on his left and take its place in the path behind the cow ahead. Over and over he would do this until her pony was on his left. Reaching down to pull his rifle from its case, he found the container empty.

Empty? Without a gun to clear each pathway to his left, how was he to get to her? Quickly, he reached behind him, his hand lingering for a moment over his bow and arrows. With the gun having taken the place of the bow and arrow for most Pikuni men, the quiver with bow and arrows was seldom worn anymore. However, today he had placed both upon his back, thinking to kill an animal quietly with the bow and arrow rather than announce where he was by the boom of a gun.

Pulling the bow from its quiver, as well as many arrows, he placed all but one arrow into his mouth, and, holding them with his teeth, he fitted the first arrow to his bow. He took aim.

Whish! The arrow went down well below the ribs, straight to the heart of the buffalo. The animal made only one more jump before it went down. With his knees, Rex Fox guided his pony into the downed buffalo’s place. He did the same with the next buffalo, taking its place.

Only one more row of the bulls and cows and he would be next to her. But, her horse was now plunging about madly, making it difficult for Poka’aki to stay her seat.

But, what was this? What was wrong with her saddle?

How could it have come loose? And yet, with another plunge, her saddle flew back onto the rear of her pony. Worse, she had lost her grip on the animal’s mane and was desperately holding onto the horses neck. All it would take was one more jump, and Poka’aki would fall from her horse and be trampled.

His heart stopped for a moment. But, he was only one pathway and a jump away from her horse. Quickly taking aim with another arrow, he shot at the buffalo closest to him right behind the ribs to the heart of the beast, and, as the buffalo went down, Red Fox and his pony took its place. Then, by whacking his bow on his horse’s flanks, he came to be even with Poka’aki. She was falling off her horse!

Reaching out to his left, he caught her by the waist and pulled her up onto his own mount, laying her crosswise in front of him.

Because the sharp horns of the buffalo were closing in around him again, he didn’t have a moment to set her up straight. Indeed, he knew his horse, with its double load could not long keep pace with the frightened buffalo, especially since Red Fox sensed his pony was winded. However, using his bow, he kept the animal in step with the buffalo, despite his pony fighting for breath. Then, taking up his bow again, he positioned another arrow to his bow, took aim and felled the buffalo to his left.

He did the same with his remaining arrow, and then all his arrows were gone. All he could do now was to force his horse into the remaining two rows of buffalo to his left, one at a time. Saying a prayer beneath his breath, he forced his pony into the next pathway of buffalo.

Only one more row of the stampeding herd remained, but his pony was clever and worked his way to the side again and into the pathway to the left. And then Red Fox steered his pony to the left again.

Free! At last, we are free!

Red Fox turned his mount again to the left, putting some distance between Poka’aki, himself and his pony from the stampeding buffalo. He reined his horse to a stop beneath a quivering pine. Jumping to the ground, Red Fox pulled Poka’aki off the pony, and when she would have collapsed in his arms, he held onto her tightly, pulling her closely against him.

He could feel her sobs at his shoulder, and he tightened his grip on her, saying in a low voice, “It is over. We are alive. We survive.”

She was crying and in between gasps, she whispered, “I would be dead now if not for you.”

He didn’t know what to answer in response, and so he said only, “Come, you can sit beneath this tree and recover your breath while I go to find your bother. We must report what we have found to our chiefs.”

“No! Do not let me go! I beg you, do not let me go!”

With her face against his shoulder and she standing so closely in his arms, all of his energy suddenly focused on her instead of their narrow escape from death. Indeed, all of his bent-up emotions and the joy of his success was centered upon her and only upon her. And for a moment, he thought he had not only escaped death this day, but he might have found the white man’s heaven, as well.

How long was it now that he had loved Poka’aki? All those years ago, when her brother, George, had asked him to tutor her in the ways of the plains, who could have predicted he would fall in love with the girl? Certainly, he hadn’t foreseen it.

But, he had, indeed, surrendered his heart to her. However, she was younger than he by seven winters. And so, he had waited for her to grow up before turning his mind toward the idea of approaching her father with many horses and asking for her hand in marriage.

And so, in all these years, he had held himself back from declaring himself to her. He knew she liked him well enough, but so beautiful was she, he was a little afraid of her: fearful, he was, of her possible rejection of him. Or worse, she might agree to marry him simply because they were friends.

Even now, breathing in the sweet, yet fragrant scent of her, he remained silent, doing little more than savoring the moment.

Leaning her head back a little, she looked up into his eyes and, in a whisper, declared, “I am to blame for this. I almost killed you and me, too. And I…and I… I love you, Red Fox. I do not wish to leave this world without you knowing how I feel about you. Indeed, I think I have loved you since the day you first came here to tutor me, although I didn’t know it then. Since I have known you, I have been of the opinion of you being the handsomest of men; you, with your black hair, always so neatly braided and your dark, mysterious eyes. Always, you have appeared before me dressed in your best buckskin clothing and, when there have been times you have had to take off your shirt, I…I…have wondered what it might feel like if you were to hold me, to press your lips against mine.

“But, you are older than I and much taller, too, and I have had to wait to grow up a little. But, I have always looked upon you with the idea in mind that one day you will come to love me. And, if I were to have been the cause of your death here today, I do not believe I would ever be able to forgive myself, not even in the hereafter.”

She loves me? All this time she has loved me? She has even desired my embrace?

This couldn’t be real. He swallowed hard, gulping.

“Do you not feel it, too?” Poka’aki asked, her voice breathless. “I have seen the looks you have given me sometimes in the evenings when we sit around the fire. Please tell me. I am not making this up, am I? It is not all one-sided, is it? Do you love me, too?”

Red Fox shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. Then, slowly he bent his head to hers and touched his lips to hers. At their touch, every sense within him awoke to the splendor of her and his heart began beating as fast as it had been only moments ago when they had been swallowed up within the buffalo stampede.

Raising his head only slightly and inhaling deeply, he looked up into the heavens before bringing his lips down to hers yet again, and he kissed her once more, but deeply this time. His tongue opened her mouth to his persuasion, and thereupon, he proceeded to love her with his kisses, one after another, as though he were a hungry man and she were the only sweet thing that could satisfy him.

She kissed him back and as she did so, the world around him seemed to come alive. Indeed, the sun, shining down upon his shoulders, felt warmer. The wind seemed to join in with the sun in a kindlier fashion as it whirled around them, sharing its cooler temperature with them. Truly, it felt to him as though the life force of the earth and all of His creatures were as happy as he.

Bringing his head down toward hers, he touched his lips to hers yet again.

Áa! Magic! It was as though they had been waiting longer than mere years for this one, precious moment to declare themselves to one another.

How splendid it would be to make her his wife this day.  If he were to do so, it would put to rest the very real possibility of her father denying her to him.

After all, it was her brother, George, who had included him as a tutor for her all those years ago…not her parents. In truth, it was with a critical eye her parents, József and Mária Fehér, had watched him teach her to shoot, to ride, to track and hunt game as well as any man. Added to this, for the past month, Poka’aki’s elder brother, Frederic,—who lived in a faraway, eastern part of the Americas—was now temporarily in residence here in Pikuni country. And, though Frederic had brought with him his wife and their child for the visit, Frederic held himself and his immediate family aloof from all things Pikuni.

Niitá’p, indeed, since Frederic’s arrival, Red Fox had noted a change within her father’s behavior toward all things Pikuni, too.

Needing to breathe, Red Fox broke off the kiss, listening to his…and her strained breath. Then, a little huskily, and with a silent air of doubt in her voice, she asked, “You do love me, don’t you?”

So enamored was he with her, his voice was shaking when he answered, “Of course I do. For many years I have loved you. And, if I loved you a little less than I do, I would make you my wife now under the eye of the Creator, thus letting the world around us be joyful along with us or condemn us.”

“Oh, yes. Please.  I am ready to become your woman, your wife,” she whispered.

Once again, he shut his eyes as the throes of passion came over him. He was more than ready to cause them to marry. Did he dare?

Saa, no, he silently answered his own question; a good man would approach her father and ask for her hand in marriage. Besides, he did not wish to disrupt her family and his. After all, her other brother, George, was married to Red Fox’s sister.

Inwardly sighing, he realized it was true.

He swallowed, hard, bringing control over his impulses. No, this had to be done in the right way; it was his place to approach her father, bringing with him as many horses as he could gather together from his herd, since this was the traditional Pikuni way of asking for a woman to be his.

Moving his forehead down to hers, he said, “We will go to your father’s house tonight with many horses and I will ask your father to give you to me as my woman for all my life.”

She swooned in toward him, and said, “I will help you herd your horses my darling, handsome tutor. I am certain my father will say yes. After all, he speaks very highly of you and how you have patiently taught me how to survive on these plains.”

Red Fox, however, had his doubts about this. All he said, though, was, “Come with me as I go to the chiefs and report what has happened here. Then, together we will take all I can quickly find of my pony herd, excepting this animal who carried me to you this day. We will then ride to your father’s home and I will ask him to accept the horses I give him as he, likewise, gives you to me.”

“Yes,” she said, placing her arms around his neck and bringing his head down to hers once more. “Imagine. Soon I will be your wife.”

Laughing, she brought her lips up to his in a sweet, yet stirring kiss.

Ending the caress, Red Fox said, “Come, let us find your brother quickly and tell him our happy news. Then, we can all go to the chiefs and report what we have found concerning the buffalo herd. And, after we have made our report to our chiefs, we will seek out your father.”

“Yes,” she said. “Oh, yes. Let us hurry!”

IF SHE WERE MINE, coming soon!

 

 

The Cattleman’s Sweetheart by Sherry Shindelar–and a giveaway

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Mary Ann (Molly) Dyer met Charles Goodnight in 1864 at Fort Belknap, Texas. The Civil War, in its last year, had taken a toll on the Texas frontier. Charles, a former scout and ex-Texas Ranger, was part of the Frontier Regiment, a Texas militia assigned to protecting the frontier from Indian attacks. On his way to becoming one of the founders of the Texas cattle drives, Charles kept a herd of cattle on the side within riding distance of the fort.

The petite school teacher caught the eye of the rough and tumble soldier/scout/cattleman.

Molly wasn’t born to the hard life of the frontier. However, in 1854, a pledge her father made to Sam Houston led to her leaving the tranquil, civilized life of a prominent lawyer’s daughter in Tennessee and immigrating to Texas with her family. Settlers were just beginning to trickle into the lands surrounding Fort Belknap in the mid 1850’s, and Comanche raids were a constant threat.

Molly’s parents died a few years later, and she was left to support her three youngest brothers. She could have packed up and headed home to Tennessee. Instead, she stuck to the frontier and became a school teacher. As the Civil War ripped the nation apart, the Texas frontier rolled back a hundred miles in some places due to Indian raids. Fort Belknap hovered at the edge of what remained.

Molly was a smart, gutsy woman with a heart for others. Her strength and courage were as enduring as the prairie sun. Charles was a fighter, and a natural born frontiersman, who didn’t know the word “quit.” The spark of attraction between them that sprang to life in 1864 flourished into an acquaintance and courtship that endured Charles’s months or even year-long cattle drives as he mapped out the Goodnight-Loving Trail and started making a name for himself and worked to build an empire.

By 1868 and 1869, Molly was teaching in Weatherford, Texas, the supply hub for Charles’s cattle drives. She’d had enough of the extended courtship. This was the man she wanted to spend her life with, and he needed to make a decision. Eventually, she told him he needed to propose or be done courting. He married the love of his life in July 1870.

The refined school teacher traveled west with the rancher to the rough country near Pueblo, Colorado. They settled down on Charles’s ranch, but eventually, they found their true home in the Palo Duro Canyon, a 800 foot deep, ten to twenty mile wide canyon that stretched for one hundred and twenty miles. Together, they eventually managed over a million acres and more than a 100,000 cattle.

Molly and Charles’s love endured long stretches of time apart, with cattle drives keeping him away for several seasons at a time. With only one female neighbor in the vast area of the canyon, Molly befriended the cowboys at the ranch and the occasional Indian that traveled through.

Sherry Shindelar Website

 

She would often go six months or a year without seeing anyone while the men were away on cattle drives. The beautiful walls of Palo Duro, colored like red Spanish skirts, must have felt like the end of the earth at times. But Molly thrived. She ran the ranch in her husband’s absence and was a friend to all in need, including the buffalo.

 

 

 

 

 

Her heart ached for the baby bison orphaned by the wholesale slaughter of the herds from the late 1860’s through the 1880’s. She rescued and cared for the calves, bottle-feeding them when needed. Her efforts helped save the southern buffalo from extinction.

 

Throughout the Goodnight’s fifty-six year marriage, Charles was a man who enjoyed the thrill of adventure and the unknown, willing to take great risks, gaining and losing land and wealth in the process. Molly was his foundation, the North Star of his compass.1 For his sake, she endured the loneliness of an entire canyon, but instead of being defeated, she thrived in his world and made a name for herself alongside his. She was described as a bubbly person, full of energy and heart. The spark of attraction ignited in 1864 between the school teacher and the cattleman blazed into an enduring flame that neither distance, time, hardship, or differences could snuff out. After her death, Charles “lost himself,” because he’d lost the keeper of his heart.

The epitaph inscribed on Molly’s gravestone reads, “One who spent her life in the service of others.”

Charles Goodnight makes a cameo appearance in the third book of my Lone Star Redemption series, Texas Reclaimed. Goodnight’s wild bronc ride in the story is a real event, but the real love in my story sparks between Ben McKenzie and Cora Scott.

To win a copy of Texas Reclaimed, leave an answer to this question in the comments below: If you were Molly Goodnight, would you have stayed behind on the ranch all of those months alone, or you would you have insisted on going with your husband on the cattle drives? Why?

 

  1. Botkin, Jane Little. “I Accepted a Challenge: Researching and Writing Mary Ann Goodnight’s Story.” com/2024/03/i-accepted-a-challenge-researching-and-writing-mary-ann-goodnights-story/. 11 March 202

 Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. A romantic at heart, she is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she isn’t busy writing, she is an English professor, working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is a multi-award-winning writer. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren. Sherry is currently writing the fourth book in her Lone Star Redemption series. The series is set on the Texas frontier in the 1860’s and features some of her favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, captive narrative, Native Americans, scarred heroes, and feisty heroines.

Texas Reclaimed

Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family’s past and a man with a war-scarred heart?

Cora Scott is determined to hold onto her family’s Texas ranch and provide a stable home for her young half brother, Charlie, despite the mounting challenges of post-Civil War frontier life. But when a scheming creditor threatens to seize their land, she must accept help from Ben McKenzie, a former Yankee soldier sent by her late brother. Though Ben’s generosity and strength draw her, the man’s private struggle she stumbles upon—too reminiscent of her father’s alcoholism—makes her question whether she can trust her heart to him.

Ben McKenzie arrives in Texas intent on fulfilling his promise to his dying friend to protect Cora and Charlie. While using his inheritance to save their ranch, he battles not only the loss of their cattle but also his dependency on laudanum—a medicine that turned into a curse after his imprisonment at Andersonville. As his feelings for Cora deepen, he must choose between his promise to his father to take over their Philadelphia newspaper and his growing dream of a life with Cora in Texas.

Come in and let’s chat.

Is There Ever Such a Thing as a New Idea?

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We’re so happy to welcome back guest author Nancy Fraser! She’s toting four books to give away so be sure to leave a comment.  

One of the things authors struggle with the most is the challenge of finding a new historical romance trope… something that hasn’t been done hundreds of times. It’s not easy.

It helps if you’re writing your book as part of a multi-author series, because the initial trope is already there. Whether it’s a mail-order bride scenario, or wagon train romances, or even the land rush decades, the author’s job is to breathe fresh life into a tried-and-true formula.

Where to begin?
One thing that helps me is to first set a time period. I’m partial to the late 1880s or early 1890s, and for the silliest of reasons. I want indoor plumbing. I can’t tell you the number of historical romances I’ve read where nobody goes to the bathroom because there’s nothing engaging about hiking to the outhouse.

Indoor plumbing came to the cities and states east of the Mississippi not long after the Civil War. In some instances, e.g., well-to-do homes, it a was even earlier. However, the luxury was slow to arrive out west. In the more remote areas, homes didn’t rid themselves of the outdoor facilities until well into the 1900s. As a child (1950s), I remember one aunt who still used her outhouse. Believe me, for an eight-year-old, that pre-bedtime hike was both exciting and scary. Especially when you were being followed by an ornery turkey.

I digress. My intention was to talk about finding a different story angle.

So, how do you find that one ‘new’ story? Once I’ve set my time period and chosen my main character’s profession and the location for my story, I search for late 19th century facts about the area and the job, e.g., “1880’s medical facilities in rural Oklahoma”. Once I’ve found something quirky or, at least, interesting, I can fashion my plot around a little-known fact. I’ve even begun adding a feature to the back of most of my books called, “The More You Know”. I recap my research and share what I’ve learned over and above weaving it into my story.

Earlier this month, I released Lost in Her Dreams as part of the Chasing a Dream Series. I set the story in Alaska at the time of the Klondike Gold Rush. My fact sheet was full for that one.

Once an author has an idea for something unusual, the plot twist comes next. The what-ifs are used to tweak the facts without breaking them. Whether your unique story comes from the location or the premise itself, there are a number of ways to work in new ideas without compromising your research.

I’ve had the privilege of writing for a most unusual series of western historical romances beginning late last year. The series is titled, “The Bride Who…”. The objective of the series was to put our heroine brides in unusual circumstances. The titles in the series have been wonderfully entertaining.

Yesterday, February 26th, marked the release of my third book in the series. Titled: The Bride Who Writes Penny Novels, it was fun to create an alter ego for my heroine. Worried that some would deem her a loose woman, she chooses a nom de plum to honor her family history and stay hidden at the same time.

My first two books in the series were equally as much fun (and as challenging). The Bride Who Keeps Running Away came first and is an old-west reimagining of the movie, Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

The second book, The Bride Who Reads Too Much, gave my heroine a goal and a profession… one that the hero was happy to accept (eventually).

Whether it’s research that drives the author’s new idea, or maybe a unique group premise, the important thing is always to entertain and draw the reader into the story.


Here’s a sneak peek at The Bride Who Writes Penny Novels:

Kathryn (Kate) Montgomery has a secret… a big one.

Trained as a schoolteacher, she’s happy to spend her days teaching the primary grades in one of Denver’s most prestigious schools. By night, Kate sets aside her primers for a vocation of a different kind. Writing penny novels.

Left an inheritance of property in the small town of Elbert, Colorado, Kate decides to leave Denver behind and try her hand at writing full time.

Sheriff Rafe Nichols is summoned by a neighbor of the old Montague property because they suspect a squatter. When he arrives at the slightly rundown home, he’s surprised to find a beautiful, young woman who claims to be the owner. They butt heads when he tells her he’ll need to check into the legality of her claim.

What will happen with the small town of Elbert discovers her alter-ego’s identity? And how will it effect her relationship with Rafe?
You can find Kate and her handsome sheriff on AMAZON
As with all my books, it’s enrolled in Kindle Unlimited and available in print.

When you’re looking for a new book to read, do you try to find something with an unusual plot, twist, or historical detail? Or do you prefer to stay with the tried and true? As a thank you for the commenters who will spend time with me today, I’m pleased to give away four prizes, two copies of The Bride Who Writes Penny Novels and two copies of Lost in Her Dreams. 



Until next time, stay happy, stay healthy, stay well-read.

Nancy

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NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Her preferred genres are sweet western historical and sweet small-town contemporary. However, she has been known to dabble in the most unusual settings.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

You can follow Nancy here:

Amazon Author Page ~ Bookbub ~ BlueSky Social  ~  Goodreads

 

Why Western Romance Stories Feel Like Coming Home

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This week, we welcome back a dear friend–Robin Lee Hatcher! I hope you’ll make her welcome!

There’s a reason Western romance fiction continues to draw readers back, year after year. It isn’t only the sweeping landscapes or the promise of new beginnings. At its heart, Western romance is about people who arrive carrying the weight of the past—and discover that love, faith, and belonging can be found in the most unexpected places.
That truth is at the center of To Find Where She Belongs. When Keely arrives in Idaho, she isn’t chasing adventure or freedom for its own sake. She’s running—from fear, from shame, and from a life where she learned too early that safety was fragile and trust came at a cost. Like so many heroines in Western romance, Keely comes to the edge of the frontier hoping the wide-open land might offer something she has never truly known: peace.
William Overstreet, on the other hand, is already rooted. He belongs to the land, to his faith, and to a way of life shaped by responsibility and quiet perseverance.

He isn’t searching for change; he believes he’s exactly where God has placed him. Yet even in the midst of that certainty, he carries a loneliness he barely allows himself to name. Western romance often pairs a wandering heart with a steady one, and Keely and William embody that contrast.

The ranch at Eden’s Gate becomes more than a setting. It becomes a proving ground. In the West, there is little room for false appearances. Hard work reveals character. Consistency builds trust. And slowly, through shared days and ordinary moments, Keely begins to experience something unfamiliar: kindness without expectation. William doesn’t demand to know her past or rush her healing. He offers space, respect, and grace. Qualities that define the best Western heroes and the kind of love stories readers long for.

 

Keely’s journey mirrors that of many beloved Western romance heroines. She believes belonging must be earned through silence, obedience, or perfection. William, shaped by his faith, understands something she does not yet grasp: that grace is freely given, not bargained for. Their growing affection isn’t loud or dramatic. It’s steady, patient, and rooted in safety. In a genre known for rugged strength, their love story reminds us that gentleness can be just as powerful.

Western romance stories resonate because they echo a deeper longing: to be known, to be forgiven, and to be welcomed home. For Keely, home is not simply a place on the map. It’s found in a man who sees her worth even when she cannot, and in a God who has never lost sight of her, no matter how far she’s wandered.

That is why Western romance feels like coming home. And I hope you’ll find that is true when you read To Find Where She Belongs.

I’m delighted to give away an autographed paperback of To Find Where She Belongs to one US Petticoats and Pistols reader. Just let me know in the comments what is your favorite thing about Western romance fiction.

Back cover copy:
Guilt followed her across an ocean. Grace called her home.

Desperate to leave Hooke Manor, Keely Boyle does what she feels she must in order to flee England for America, hoping to make a new life with the help of a man who befriended her years before. But when she arrives at Eden’s Gate, a large cattle ranch in the shadows of the Tetons, it is William Overstreet who offers her a fresh start.

William—a steady, God-fearing man—doesn’t need the complications falling for the pretty Irish immigrant would bring. He has enough problems already: water on the range has been poisoned and cattle are dying. But even as danger stalks the ranch, William can’t stop himself from being drawn to Keely’s fiery spirit and winsome ways.

When Keely’s secret sin is exposed, her world—and the love she’s come to cherish—teeters on the edge of ruin. But through danger and redemption, both she and William will find that belonging isn’t a matter of where they stand, but Whose grace holds them fast.
Set against the rugged beauty of 1890s Idaho, To Find Where She Belongs is a tender story of redemption, love, and the God who can turn even our deepest shame into belonging.



Robin Lee Hatcher is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 95 novels and novellas with over five million copies in print. She’s known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of courage, faith, and love. In addition to many writing awards—including the Christy, Carol, and RITA Awards—she’s the recipient of prestigious lifetime achievement awards from both ACFW and RWA. She lives in the Boise area with a demanding papillon dog.

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GCPHGG3P?tag=pettpist-20

An Unusual Groom and a Giveaway!

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It’s such a pleasure to be with you again today. In our literary world, I wear two hats: reader and author. The reader’s hat is the one I’ve worn the longest; I’m an avid book lover who read 385 books in 2025, even while writing eleven of my own. But every so often, I trade that reader’s hat for my author’s Stetson and step into this paddock to share what I’ve been working on.

 

 

As you might imagine, growing up as a half Native American and half white child in the Old West could present many problems. Many times, the children didn’t feel as if they were accepted in either world, especially when they were raised in a white culture. Neighbors often discriminated against them, and they might or might not be allowed to attend a school. If they were, they often met strong prejudice, harassment, and sometimes abuse. They had few, if any, friends, and as they grew older, there were no one to court. They were rarely able to find a job, apart from riding as a scout for the military, and no one wanted to sell them property. So many of the doors that others took for granted were closed to them. This is the backdrop to my new novel.

 

My final book in the Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series released on February 10th. These four novels have been a joy to write, and with 68 titles and more still on the way, it’s clear readers have embraced this series as much as we authors have. I didn’t intend it, but I may have saved my most tender, heartfelt story for last. Gwendolyn’s Groom invites readers into the rugged beauty of the Old West, where love rarely comes easy, sacrifice may be demanded, and true courage sometimes means choosing the harder road.

Gwendolyn Corbett never imagined her father would secretly contact a matchmaker on her behalf, and she certainly didn’t expect her potential groom to come with a heritage that would shock her small Wyoming community. With her father’s heart failing and the doctor warning that any stress could hasten his decline, Gwendolyn faces an impossible choice: marry a stranger or risk losing the man she loves most.

 

River Donahue has spent his life on the margins. Since his grandmother’s death, he’s been left with a bitter grandfather and a lineage that makes landowners refuse to sell to him and employers unwilling to hire him. When the matchmaker his grandmother trusted sends him to a dying horse rancher, River is offered something he never dared hope for—a home, a future, and a family. All he must do is marry the rancher’s daughter. But promises can cast long shadows, and dreams often demand a price. Are River and Gwendolyn stepping into a blessing or a storm?
I’m thrilled to share this story with you. Gwendolyn’s Groom is available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and in paperback. My Audible narrator offered such heartfelt praise for the story that I can’t wait to hear what readers think. I hope you’ll check it out. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLKB5Q2W?tag=pettpist-20

To win either a free Kindle or a free Audible copy of Gwendolyn’s Groom, answer the following question: Would you ever agree to a marriage of convenience if it meant prolonging the life of someone you loved deeply and trusted? Why or why not?

It’s Yee-Haw Day!

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The fillies are riding in with news fit for sharing!

Nan Reinhardt

What an awesome release week for The Cowboy’s Comeback! Reviews are coming in, and Bo & Cassie are a hit! I’m so thrilled with mentions like this 5-star review on Goodreads:

January 22, 2026
THE COWBOYS COMEBACK by Nan Reinhardt
Release date January 29, 2026Definitely one of my favorite tropes second chances.I loved the story with Bo and Cassie. That a horrible break up five years earlier. Now they find themselves stuck on the same ranch. one is a trainer and one is a student. This is a wonderful opportunity for both of them. Can they make it work?For me all of Nan’s books are unputdownable! And this was definitely no exception. I loved being on Juniper Falls ranch.
Please keep them coming, Nan ?
Can’t beat that! The Cowboy’s Comeback is available now in both e-book and print at all book retailers!

Sarah Lamb

I’m excited it’s release day for a new book!

Her whole life, Ellen Grayson has lived by one rule: stay away from the Claytons. They’re dangerous, evil, and sworn enemies of her family. But when she finds herself on Clayton land, the one who protects her doesn’t match the monster from her parents’ stories. Drawn to him, Ellen is determined to uncover the bitter feud that has kept them apart.

Derek Clayton has loved Ellen from afar since childhood, stealing glimpses of her whenever their paths cross in town. As the third generation caught in a family war, he knows the only way to keep her safe is to stay away, no matter how much he wishes otherwise. It’s gotten more difficult to hide his feelings, and he can no longer deny the powerful pull between them.

But are they doomed to love only in secret for a chance that may never come? Ellen and Derek must decide if their forbidden love is strong enough to finally end the feud that has haunted their families for generations. Or if they’ll be forever waiting in the shadows.

Start reading Waiting in the Shadows now, and get swept away into a romantic, forbidden romance.

Linda Broday

COVER REVEAL!

Jess’s Reckoning – The McIntyres Book 3 – The exciting Conclusion

Jess McIntyre and Abigail Farnsworth find love & adventure, plus his remaining sibling!

Releases May or June

Karen Witemeyer

A fantastic giveaway opportunity, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Tons of western romance on the table in this one. Prizes include: Amazon gift cards, autographed books, and ebooks. Including my upcoming February release, Taming Lady Temperance!

Visit this link to join the fun: https://www.jilldewhurst.com/promo

 

Karen Kay — Night Thunder’s Bride (Book #3 in the The Blackfoot Warrior Series) is on sale!

 

Night Thunder has vowed to protect Rebecca. When she is stolen by an enemy, he goes after her. But he can’t simply ride into the enemy camp and kill the guilty. The thieves are malcontents from his own tribe. There is only one way to save her.

He must claim her as his bride.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072RXCB6H?tag=pettpist-20

 

Welcome Misty M. Beller

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Hello Reader Friends!

I’m BEYOND excited to be back with my Petticoats and Pistols family again today!

And I get to share the brainstorming behind my new series, The Lords of the Rockies. This idea has been percolating in my mind for a couple of years now—a mash-up of two of my favorite historical romance worlds: Regency England and the rugged American West.

When we think about the American West, English dukes and titled gentlemen don’t usually come to mind. We picture cowboys, homesteaders, and folks chasing a fresh start under wide western skies—not men raised in manor houses an ocean away.

But here’s the fun historical truth: English aristocrats really did head west, especially younger sons who had little waiting for them back home.

In England, the system of primogeniture meant the eldest son inherited the title, the estate, and the future. Younger sons were expected to find respectable paths—often the military, the church, or law—but not everyone was suited to those roles. And not every family could afford to set each son up comfortably.

For many of those younger sons, the American West offered something England didn’t: opportunity without expectation.

Out West, no one cared who your father was. What mattered was whether you could work hard, hold your own, and pull your weight. Land could be earned. A man could reinvent himself. Titles meant little when cattle needed herding and fences needed mending.

British newspapers and letters home talked about open land, ranching opportunities, mining booms, and railroads pushing into new territory. English money was already flowing into western investments, so the idea of heading to America didn’t feel quite as far-fetched as we might think.

Some English gentlemen came west to manage land or investments. Others came for adventure—or escape. Quite a few stayed and put down real roots.

There are plenty of real-life examples of Englishmen trading tailored coats for dusty boots. Some learned quickly that ranch life was harder than it looked. Those who succeeded were the ones willing to set aside Old World habits and embrace western practicality.

For men raised with strict expectations they never chose, the West offered something powerful: a chance to be judged by who they were, not who they were born to be.

Of course, the past doesn’t always stay put. An unexpected death, a title suddenly in play, or family duty could call a man back across the Atlantic—sometimes just when he’d found the life that fit him best.

That tug-of-war between duty and freedom is one of the most fascinating parts of this little corner of history.

That blend of English tradition and western grit is what inspired my Lords of the Rockies series. In Book One, Mail-Order Duchess, English inheritance finally catches up with a life built in Montana. And in Book Two, Mail-Order Baroness—coming February 10th!—the ripple effects of those aristocratic ties continue to complicate lives that once felt safely distant from England.

Because when English aristocrats head to the American west, things are bound to get interesting.

I pray you love Mail-Order Duchess—and that you’ll be just as excited to return to Montana for Mail-Order Baroness very soon!

To celebrate, I’m excited to give away a signed copy of Mail-Order Duchess! To be entered for the giveaway, I’d love to hear what you think: If you could reinvent yourself in the American West, what would you do—and where would you go? Let me know in the comments!

Roped Into Paradise

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Sometimes the idea for a story catches me completely by surprise.

Such was the case for my wholesome rom-com that releases next week.

Last February, I was sitting at my desk, looking outside at the cold, wintery day, and wondering why we don’t plan vacations to sunny locales during the coldest months of the year, when an email popped into my inbox from my dad’s cousin, J/J.

J/J loves to go on cruises. In fact, at the time, he was on a multi-week, back-to-back series of cruises in the Caribbean.

When I saw an email from him, I thought, “Oh, fun! More news from someplace where it is warm and sunny and you don’t have to put on wool socks just to go get the mail.”

The email read:

“Is there any chance in the future I might see a book about romance on the high seas where a cowboy takes a cruise to some exotic location?”

After reading that question, I couldn’t help myself. My imagination shifted into high gear and I began brainstorming story ideas.

What if there was a cowboy from someplace cold, going to spend time with his grandmother who lived someplace warm, and the grandma—being an eccentric ol’ gal—drags him onto a cruise without giving him any warning or opinions on the matter? From there, the ideas kept rolling.

I’ve never been on a cruise, but, thankfully, J/J was so kind to answer my many questions and share day-to-day cruising details with me. For a week, I almost felt like I was right there on the cruise ship. J/J was also kind enough to save a bunch of information he received on the cruise, like their daily planners, and mail them to me when he returned home. There was so much great information that he shared, and I tried to work in as much as I could into the story.

A cowboy, a cruise, and a meddling grandma—what could go wrong?

JJ McKade expected to spend two weeks with his grandmother at her condo in sunny Florida, celebrating her birthday. Instead, he got shanghaied by his mischievous grandma on a Caribbean cruise—complete with hot pink luggage, a gaggle of giggling octogenarians, and a humiliating childhood nickname haunting his every move.

Between meddling matchmakers, unexpected friendships, and the endless chaos of cruise life, JJ can’t help being drawn to Kinsley Kline, the ship’s enchanting horticulturist. There’s just one catch: crew fraternizing with passengers is strictly forbidden.

With only a few months left in her contract aboard The Affinity, Kinsley can’t let anything rock her boat or derail her plans. Then the arrival of a hunky cowboy on the ship makes her question if some rules are meant to be broken, and a little boat rocking is a good thing.

From sun-drenched beaches to moonlit strolls, JJ and Kinsley must decide if an onboard romance can last on land, and if love is worth risking their hearts.

Packed with laughter, longing, and a grandmother who refuses to play by the rules, Roped Into Paradise is a heartwarming and wholesome romantic comedy about family, hope, and finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of witty banter, unexpected romance, and cruise ship escapades that sweep you off your feet.

Here’s a little excerpt from the book:

JJ tugged on the only pair of clean jeans he’d packed in his bag and unrolled a green plaid western shirt, fastening the snaps with one hand while using the other to finger-comb his hair. In the adjoining bathroom, he splashed his face with cold water and brushed his teeth, then he moseyed into the kitchen, lured by the scent of coffee.

“Here,” Grams said, shoving a travel mug into his hand. “You can drink that on the way.”

“On the way to where?” he asked, taking a long, bracing sip of coffee so strong and black, he could feel it peeling away layers of tissue as it traveled down his throat.

“The store, JJ. Do try to keep up,” Grams said, snagging her car keys off a hook by the door that led into her garage. She gave him a look that clearly conveyed her thoughts that he was hopeless as he stumbled over the step into the garage. “I’ll drive.”

He thought about arguing, but refrained. Until the caffeine kicked in, he wasn’t sure he could find his way out to the end of the driveway.

Ten minutes later, Grams pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of a superstore that sold everything from fried chicken to pontoon boats. Hungry as he was, the fried chicken didn’t sound all that bad, even if it was a grease-soaked remnant from yesterday’s offerings.

Confused as to why they were at the store before most of the population was even awake, JJ took another long drink of coffee and then set the mug in the cupholder of the SUV.

“Why on earth are we here?” he asked as he got out of the vehicle and walked with his grandmother to the door.

“We can’t go on the boat ride until you are properly outfitted.”

“Boat ride? Outfitted?” JJ thought maybe he’d dreamed the part about Grams mentioning a boat ride last night. Did he really need new attire for a ride around the lake? Usually, they took a fishing charter cruise around the lake at some point during his visit. Cargo shorts, a T-shirt, and an old pair of sneakers would work just fine for that. “What are you talking about, Grams?”

“I told you I booked a boat ride, JJ. Aren’t you listening?” Grams asked as though he were five and incapable of paying attention.

He watched as his grandmother snagged a shopping cart from the row of them outside the door, set her purse inside, and grabbed his arm in one seemingly smooth motion as she marched inside the store.

“What kind of boat ride requires getting up this early in the morning to come shopping here, of all places, so I can be properly outfitted? Last I checked, you and Mom would both develop acute hives if you had to purchase your wardrobe here.”

Grams smiled at the greeter standing near the door and made a beeline for the men’s clothing. JJ hoped he could still move with as much agility as his grandmother had when he was her age. Then again, she attended a yoga class three times a week and took pride in walking at least a mile every day.

“It means, JJ, that we are boarding a cruise ship at half past ten this morning and setting sail for the Caribbean. You need clothes for an eleven-day trip. From the pathetic contents of your duffel bag, you’ll be forced to wash your undies in the bathroom sink every other day. You should have listened when your mother suggested you pack a suitcase with plenty of clothes, baby. Now, stop dawdling and get to shopping.” Grams pointed to a rack of cargo shorts.

Releasing January 29!

If you could snap your fingers and be on a dream vacation today, where would you go and what would you see?

Post your answer for a chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card!

Insanity in the Old West

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“On an unforgiving 1880s frontier, where secrets cut as sharp as winter winds, love must decide whether to freeze—or fight its way through the storm.”

When I began to write SUMMER’S HEART, I had no plans to include a woman who was off her rocker. It wasn’t until I decided Summer and Dan were too comfortable in their relationship. So, like authors do, I had to shake the couple up. Enter Elsie Finch with wild claims that Dan fathered her child.

Boy, did the fireworks light things up! Doubts and questions rose. I won’t give the story away but it took a while for Summer and Dan to kiss and make up. Here’s something fun for you.

 

Insanity treatments in the 19th century left a lot to be desired. Our own Mary Connealy has blogged about this several times so you might find more there. Here is the link to one: https://petticoatsandpistols.com/2022/04/21/insane-asylums-in-history/

In the east, they had plenty of asylums where they locked people with mental illness away. But husbands with wives they didn’t want soon saw how easy it was to label their excess baggage as insane and lock them up with no questions asked.

A few of the crazy reasons they gave was:

  • Imaginary Female Trouble
  • Political Excitement
  • Asthma
  • Brain Fever
  • Jealousy
  • Religious Enthusiasm
  • Reading too many novels (WHAT!!)

I kid you not. Reading novels had to be one of the lamest excuses!

Anyway, that was mostly back east. In the old West, mental asylums were not prevalent. Mostly, families tried to deal with their crazy relatives themselves. Another alternative was putting them in prisons but those conditions were horrible.

In Texas, the first institution was the Texas State Lunatic Asylum. Doctors there tried a softer approach—until it became overcrowded. A second one, the North Texas Lunatic Asylum was built in Terrell but it was pretty bad. Lobotomies, cold water immersion, beatings, and things like that. Few doctors knew how to treat them.

In my new story, I never go into what kind of asylum the one in Austin was. It wasn’t discussed and I had to get the characters onto the rescue of her little brother which proved quite challenging. I’m sure it was about the same as the others. Horrible places.

Not only did Elsie Finch provide a lot of comic relief, which the story needed to offset the darkness, it also taught Summer to trust Dan with all her heart and see that he truly loved only her.

In this snowbound 1882 Texas romance filled with frontier mystery, unexpected betrayal, and heart-pounding suspense, nurse Summer McIntyre’s world is upended when a stranger arrives through the blizzard carrying a newborn and claiming the sheriff, the man she’s set to marry is the father. As the storm seals the town under ice, Summer discovers her missing little brother is alive—and in the hands of a dangerous madwoman in the frozen hills. With rescue impossible and trust between her and Sheriff Dan Bodine shattered, Summer must uncover the truth before the storm takes everyone she loves.

Let’s chat. Do you like reading books in the season in which they’re written? A snowy blizzard in this one might be best in winter. But then reading it in summer when it’s hot might be a refreshing break from the heat. Or maybe it doesn’t matter. I’m giving away a copy (winner’s choice of ebook or print) to two commenters so be sure to leave a comment.